UN renews the mandate of the Independent LGBTQ+ Expert

The United Nations Human Rights Council has renewed the mandate of the only UN human rights expert specifically tasked with addressing violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons.

Over the past months, 1,259 NGOs from 157 countries campaigned to renew the mandate, which was first created in 2016. The current resolution was introduced by a core group of six Latin American countries – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay – and co-sponsored by 50 countries from across the globe.

This week, the Human Rights Council voted on the resolution. It was adopted with 29 votes in favour, 15 against and 3 abstentions. As a result, the mandate of the Independent Expert has been extended for another three years. It is currently held by South African scholar Graeme Reid.

“The renewal of the mandate comes at a crucial time, as the human rights of LGBTI people are under increasing pressure worldwide, including in Europe and Central Asia,” said Chaber of ILGA-Europe. “Despite ongoing attacks on equality, we saw continued support from a significant number of UN Member States for this vital mandate. The renewal also sends an important signal to governments in Europe and Central Asia, where we are witnessing a rise in coordinated attacks on the fundamental rights of LGBTI people, under the guise of protecting tradition or public order – but in reality aimed at entrenching discrimination and silencing dissent.”

Since its creation, three successive mandate holders have carried out official visits to 11 countries and published 17 reports documenting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These include issues such as the criminalisation of same-sex relations between consenting adults, the need for legal gender recognition, and the situation of LGBTI people who are forcibly displaced. Communications regarding human rights violations have also been sent to 171 States across all regions.